Over two hundred youths of Awka extraction have either been empowered with skills or offered scholarships by members of Awka Union in the United States of America and Canada.
The event which took place at the Ndichie Hall, Umudioka village Awka had beneficiaries drawn from the thirty-three villages that make up Awka Community.
In a keynote address during the ceremony, the President-General of the association, Dr Anayo Nwobum said the essence of the programme is to keep the youths of the community productively engaged, in addition to making them go back to school.
Dr. Nwobum, who said that education is the key for the future, as it opens horizons for unlimited possibilities disclosed that those who benefitted from its skills acquisition programme will be given startup capital, adding that the group will be monitoring them to ensure that they are living up to expectations.
Contributing, a member of the Union, Mr. Dilim Iloanya charged the beneficiaries to be good Ambassadors, reminding them of the need to embrace education as the union is committed to supporting them.
A one-time President-General of the Association of Awka Union in the United States and Canada, Chief Ken Chinweze commended the efforts of the group in empowering the Youths, noting that a community that fails to empower its youths will never progress.
Some of the mentors to those that will benefit from the skills acquisition programme, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Chidekwe who specializes in paint production, Mr. Uche Chinwuba who is into furniture making and others advised the beneficiaries not to take the opportunity given them for granted but to be diligent and resilient.
The President of Awka youths Mr Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who attended the event, described the move by Awka Union in the United States and Canada as a welcome development and reassured the union that the new leadership of Awka youths is poised to bring sanity in Awka calling on the beneficiaries of the scheme to take it seriously.
Some scholarship beneficiaries, Miss Chidiebele Okechukwu who is studying Radiography at University of Benin and Mr. Kenechukwu Anagor, studying Medicine and Surgery at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, appreciated the association for the gesture, promising to make its proper use.
Some parents whose children benefitted including, Mr. Okwuchukwu Aniche and Mr. Samuel Ngene, appreciated the association, pointing out that it will make a difference in Awka community while also promising that they would help monitor their wards to ensure proper utilization of the gesture.
Comments are closed for this post.